One of the Algarve’s hottest hotels reopened with a new look

April 12, 2023 No Comments

Situated overlooking the Atlantic Ocean and next to Vilamoura Marina in the Algarve in Southern Portugal, Tivoli Marina Vilamoura Algarve Resort has reopened following an extensive redesign and refurbishment.

The major revamp introduces a contemporary and sophisticated new look to all the guest rooms, the entrance lobby, and The Argo Cocktail Bar, as well as newly landscaped gardens with a redesigned pool.

Tivoli Marina Vilamoura reopened after a four month renovation, with a new nautical and contemporary design inspired by the Algarvian beaches, the marina and the Atlantic Ocean. In the 383 bedrooms, including 21 suites, the soft beige tones, striped fabrics and natural materials aim to reflect the views, creating a relaxed atmosphere and a perfect harmony between the exterior scenery and the interior design.

The 527 sq ft. family rooms come with an exterior lounge area and terrace, combining wood with sand-coloured textures and rattan finishes with sophisticated table lamps. The revamped Vilamoura Suite now includes the choice of a VIP experience, such as dinner for two at Pepper’s Steakhouse with beverages, an 80-minute treatment at Tivoli Spa, or sun loungers for two at the adjoining beach club – Purobeach – which is open between April and October.

 

The resort is well placed for access to numerous Algarve beaches,  boat tours, golf courses, walking trails at Ria Formosa Natural Park and cultural discoveries in Loulé town with local artisans and its various arts like tile/dish painting, tapestry or basketry. Tivoli Marina Vilamoura also has a 25,833 sq ft. Tivoli Spa where guests can indulge in exclusive face and body therapies with local organic ingredients.

In the year that the Tivoli brand is celebrating its 90th anniversary, the relaunch of a more glamorous Tivoli Marina Vilamoura reinforces the continuous values of the brand – timeless elegance and tradition. 90th anniversary events and special guest experiences will be revealed throughout the year.

Rates at Tivoli Marina Vilamoura start from $330 for a Premium room including breakfast for two people. For more information on Tivoli Marina Vilamoura, visit https://www.tivolihotels.com/en/tivoli-marina-vilamoura.

 

A luxury Thai hotel offering custom wellness programs just opened in Chiang Mai

April 7, 2023 No Comments

Allen Retreat Chiang May officially opened on April 6 in northern Thailand.

This is the third property under the Aleenta brand from Thailand-based luxury boutique hotel specialist AKARYN Hotel Group. Offering 44 rooms and suites, a restaurant, bar, spa and wellness centre featuring tailor-made wellness programs and retreats, the resort manifests Akaryn Hotel Group’s ongoing dedication to providing authentic, premium, sustainable experiences. 

About the rooms

The spacious rooms, one-and-two-bedroom pool residences and a four-bedroom teak villa with a private swimming pool merge traditional Thai design with a soothing palette of natural hues, sophisticated furnishings and tech-savvy facilities.

The four-bedroom Teak Villa is made from antique golden teak that was collected by the owner before being restored and carefully reassembled into a new structure that welcomes groups of family and friends to enjoy a traditional Thai living experience with modern comforts.

Signature wellness centre

Embracing its spiritual location in the ancient city of Chiang Mai the resort is home to one of the brand’s signature Ayurah Wellness Centers.

Alongside complementary daily yoga, Qi Gong, meditation and mindfulness classes, the menu of holistic wellness retreats and tailor-made programs include:

  • Mind Balance (5 nights from $342 per night) combining natural healing and Thai Holistic Medicine.
  • Detoxification (5 nights from $325 per night) to address the symptoms and underlying causes of burnout.
  • Total Immersion Yoga (7 nights from $352 per night) incorporating movement, mindfulness and coherence.
  • Healthy Living (from $360 per night) for those living with diabetes or who may have a tendency to develop the symptoms.  
  • Self Love (3, 5, 7, 14 or 21 nights from $350 per night) to overcome personal barriers through coaching, breathing, balancing and guided meditation.
  • Mindful Vipassana Meditation (3 nights from $304 per night) trains the mind to improve emotion, awareness, concentration and happiness. There is also an option to practise this retreat at the nearby temple, Wat Ram Poeng. 

Cooking classes & more

Retreats are enriched by healthy cuisine and a Wellness cooking class, as well as bespoke nutritionist-led plans with full plant-based options. Aleenta Retreat Chiang Mai enables clients to work with a resident ‘master healer’, doctor, nurse and nutritionist to achieve optimum wellness and balance in this tranquil environment. 

Elevated gastronomy is available at the resort’s restaurant ‘The Garden’ which offers breakfast, lunch and a refined menu in the evening to both nourish and spoil. Menus have been curated to provide nutritious dishes that preserve the flavors of traditional Northern Thai Lanna cuisine alongside Western cuisine with a Lanna twist.

The Garden refrains from using imported products and focuses on sourcing Thailand’s highest quality produce with plant-based, keto and low sugar/carb options also available.

At the 1892 Bar guests can relax on the balcony overlooking the resort’s spiritual blessing garden while enjoying a distinctive selection of specially curated snacks including vegan Khao Soi Gyoza and Wild Boar Teriyaki.  

Sustainable focus

Aleenta, which means ‘a rewarding life’, has served as the hotel collection’s manifesto since its launch in 2006. Each resort is anchored upon spacious accommodations, premium design, exceptional F&B, first-class facilities, holistic retreat programs and a long-term commitment to sustainability.

As the first hotel group in Thailand to go single-use plastic free in 2018, Aleenta Retreat Chiang Mai continues this commitment to responsible hospitality. The resort was designed from reclaimed wood as a low-rise property, built to protect the local ecosystem, topography and maximize natural features.

There are many initiatives in place to source locally, recycle, conserve freshwater supplies, reduce their use of carbon-based electricity and engage with the community. Aleenta continues to seek and develop ways to further improve and support the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals across the brand.

 

Four Seasons has a new collection of luxury private retreats in Los Cabos

March 27, 2023 No Comments
Four Seasons Resort and Residences Los Cabos at Costa Palmas is now reservations for its ultra-luxury Private Retreats collection.
 
Located within the exclusive Resort community of Costa Palmas on the less-travelled East Cape of Los Cabos, the new property is spread over 1,500 acres (607 hectares).
Four Seasons Resort and Residences are located on two miles (3.2 kilometres) of swimmable beachfront.
 
It also features Four Seasons’ first-ever private marina on the Sea of Cortez along the foothills of the Sierra de la Laguna mountains, providing best-in-class access to national marine park and UNESCO World Heritage Site Cabo Pulmo, along with endless land and sea adventures singular to the East Cape of Baja.
 

About Marina Village

 The Costa Palmas Marina Village, located at the heart of Costa Palmas international marina, adjacent to Four Seasons Resort and Residences, is alive from the earliest morning hours as fishermen set out, until the wee hours of the night as the late-night crowd heads in. 
 
The concept is designed to be a marketplace that works together as retail spaces, open pavilions, restaurants and cafes that open onto a central plaza to create a lively gathering place. 
 
Anchoring the community is Mozza Baja at Costa Palmas in partnership with James Beard Foundation Award winner, author and restauranteur Nancy Silverton. The Marina Village is also home to newly opened nightclub and lounge, Chiki. Designed by interior architecture and designer Martin Brudnizki, Chiki brings together rich Mexican culture with raw authenticity that extends itself into murals and mosaics that elicit an intimate and eclectic cantina vibe.
 
Guests of Four Seasons have direct access to sailing, fishing and cruising yachts up to 250 feet from the convenience of the Resort’s “backyard.”
Ocean View 6 Bedroom Villa
 
The property offers a fleet of boats ranging from a 26-foot centre console to a 65-foot luxury cruising yacht. From direct access to Cabo Pulmo,, to nightly sunset cruises and guided sport and spearfishing adventures, Four Seasons is the only luxury resort in the market with seamless, private marina access.
 

Private retreats

Four Seasons Private Retreats offers more than 750 of the world’s finest luxury vacation homes.

 

The Los Cabos Private Retreats collection offers two to six-bedroom contemporary residences that seamlessly integrate indoor-outdoor living with flowing spaces, elemental design and native landscaping.

The collection offers a wide array of accommodations for up to 18 guests, each with private pools and expansive indoor-outdoor entertainment space.

For more information, click here.  

 

Hyatt announces expansion plans into the Caribbean

March 24, 2023 No Comments

Hyatt recently announced a multi-property collaboration with Be Live Hotels that will include the growth of the Sunscape Resorts & Spas brand in the Caribbean.

Sunscape Resort & Spas provides all-inclusive family fun. Children 12 years of age and under can enjoy the supervised Explorer’s Club, while teens have their own space at the Core Zone. The Unlimited-Fun experience promises best-in-class service, gourmet á la carte restaurants with kid-friendly options and delectable drinks and endless day and nighttime activities for the entire family.

The deal is expected to expand Hyatt’s Inclusive Collection, which was introduced following Hyatt’s acquisition of Apple Leisure Group in 2020, by nearly 2,000 rooms.

Two Be Live Hotels properties in the Dominican Republic, owned by Spanish hospitality company Globalia, will be renovated and transformed into Sunscape Resorts & Spas. The renovated hotels are expected to open in 2023, bolstering the family-friendly brand’s presence in the Caribbean.

Hyatt’s portfolio of all-inclusive brands brings exceptional and immersive experiences to guests and members with Hyatt Ziva, Hyatt Zilara, Zoëtry Wellness & Spa Resorts, Secrets Resorts & Spas, Breathless Resorts & Spas, Dreams Resorts & Spas, Hyatt Vivid Hotels & Resorts, Alua Hotels & Resorts and Sunscape Resorts & Spas brands.

To learn more about the Inclusive Collection, please visit www.hyatt.com/newbrands.

Tivoli just opened its first Dutch hotel in a 16th century property

March 22, 2023 No Comments

Tivoli Hotels & Resorts recently opened its first property in the Netherlands.  

The Tivoli Doelen Amsterdam Hotel is a 16th-century property in the classicist style overlooking the Amstel Canal; it is considered to be the oldest hotel in the Dutch capital. The property was the original home to Rembrandt Van Rijn’s famous painting The Night Watch (completed in 1642), which hung on a wall in what is now one of the hotel’s bedroom suites until it was relocated to the city’s famed Rijksmuseum.

Centrally located in Amsterdam’s historic city centre and walking distance from the city’s main tourist attractions, the heritage property has 81 guest rooms including seven suites, most of them overlooking the canal. It also boasts the elegant new Omber restaurant and bar, which is inspired by the art of Rembrandt, who lived very close to the hotel.

Old world elegance

Inspired by the Dutch Golden Age and the unique atmosphere of Amsterdam, Tivoli Doelen’s interiors blend an old-world elegance with contemporary service and special Tivoli touches.  

The guest rooms and suites offer views over the canals or the city, with the interiors featuring pastel tones with splashes of red for a relaxing but vibrant atmosphere, combined with touches of natural wood.

New beds and bed linens provide the best night’s sleep, while marble bathrooms feature amenities from the French luxury brand Lalique.

For an ultimate Dutch experience, guests can book the 506-square-foot Rembrandt Suite, where they can view a perfect replica of The Night Watch, in the same room and on the exact wall where the masterpiece originally hung for 70 years. Another interesting room is the Empress Suite, which was once the boudoir of Empress Elisabeth of Austria, most well-known as Sisi.

With a unique C-shape design to maximize views of the canal, the suite has a king-sized bed with Dutch shields on the ceiling, which are a symbol of protection. 

A touch of Rembrandt

On the ground floor and overlooking the canal, Omber restaurant and bar now offers a Mediterranean-Dutch fusion menu.  The restaurant’s name was inspired by the craftsmanship of paint making and the limited colors Rembrandt used in his works of art– omber, or amber in English, being one of his signature colours).  

Every dish on the menu contains an element inspired by his color palette. The menu also takes inspiration from the artist’s favorite dishes, such as herring and pickles, which has been recreated by the team and given Dutch name “Rembrandt Pauze”. The restaurant’s slow-cooked Dutch veal with parsnip, Carrots and Purslane is perfectly paired with Portuguese Cartuxa wine from Alentejo, a nod to the Tivoli brand’s Portuguese heritage.

Omber Bar, which opens daily at 4:30 pm, serves several signature cocktails have been created with Jenever, a typical Dutch gin that was also Rembrandt’s favorite drink. Most of the bar’s gin cocktails are made with a local Jenever producer, Wynand Fockink, which operates a similar distillery process to that used in the Dutch Golden Age. 

The star cocktail, “Night Watch” is based on an old recipe found in the hotel archives dating back to the 17th century and is made with old Jenever, coffee liqueur, syrup and cherry bitters.  

Suites at Tivoli Doelen Amsterdam Hotel start from $643.00 including breakfast for two people. For more information on Tivoli Doelen Amsterdam, visit https://www.tivolihotels.com/en/tivoli-doelen.

1 Hotels opens flagship property in Hawaii

March 3, 2023 No Comments

1 Hotels recently announced the opening of 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay, its flagship nature-and-wellness-focused island oasis overlooking a storied stretch of Kauai’s North Shore.

Indigenous and endemic vines and plants weave through low-impact structures that blend softly and seamlessly into their surroundings, causing the hotel to virtually vanish into its cliffside site.

The lobby, reception, and open-air entranceway lead guests on a journey deep into Hawaiian history and mythology. Much of the original building was removed and replaced with streams and gardens. Reclaimed teak joists, puka lava stone walls and ceilings hand-woven from abacá, a natural leaf fiber harvested from a cousin of the banana tree, are locally sourced.

Rooms and suites

There are 252 airy and nature-inspired rooms, including 51 suites decorated with hand-woven floors fashioned from local black basalt, reclaimed teak and abaca furniture and traditional punai daybeds.

Three spacious signature suites – the two-story Puu Poa Ocean Loft Suite, Napali House Suite and Makana Penthouse — serve stunning ocean and majestic mountain views from private terraces.

Every interior detail lends texture framing panoramic vistas – visible through oversized openable windows – of the shimmering crescent-shaped Bay. 

Other features

1 Hotel Hanalei Bay is also home to:

  • an 18,000-square-foot Bamford Wellness Sp
  • a 10,000 square-foot Anatomy fitness centre with 24/7 cardio equipment and strength training, mind & movement group classes, a dedicated spin/all function room and personal athletic performance training and body sculpting 
  • seven sustainable food venues that honour the rich local culture and centuries of Hawaiian tradition
  • a wide range of traditional athletic activities including an 18-hole Championship Mauka Disc Golf Course 
  • three saline pools

For more information, visit 1hotels.com 

Mexico is getting its first-ever Margaritaville resort

February 27, 2023 No Comments

The first ever adults-only Margaritaville Island Reserve by Karisma in Riviera Maya, Mexico is set to open its doors in early 2023.

With more 13 luxury suite types available, the accommodations are designed to create the ultimate travel experience to meet and exceed the most seasoned traveller’s needs and wants.
 
Guests can choose from spacious King Paradise Suite, exclusive Beachfront Honeymoon Suites, and sumptuous Coral Reefer Suites, complete with more than 1,400 sq. ft. of signature outdoor living space, including a fully furnished terrace, an oversized private infinity pool, a custom-built gaucho style grill, and an outdoor pool table.
 

New food & drink offerings

Guests will have the option to indulge in mouth watering creations at the five Margaritaville-inspired restaurants and a beachside grill offering carefully-curated cuisine, featuring a la carte menus and food displays to delight every palate.
 
In addition to brand staples like Frank and Lola’s, the resort will introduce two newcomers including:

Far Side Of The World – Pacific Rim Cuisine

  • Inspired by the lyrics of the Far Side of the World song, “Far side of the world” is about the pleasure of faraway places, unique culinary selections, surfing paradises, bamboo shacks, the vastness of the Pacific Ocean, and the bounty it provides. 

Salted Rim – Margarita Bar & Lounge

  • Salted Rim is a celebration of the agave plant in Mexico. Guests can revel in Caribbean elegance with the finest lounge service, authentic and extensive selection of tequilas, mezcals, and bacanoras, to create an array of Margaritas and more adventurous creations.

For more information on Margaritaville Island Reserve, click here.

One of Costa Rica’s best boutique hotels just got a lavish upgrade

February 24, 2023 No Comments

Cala Luna Boutique Hotel, located in Tamarindo, Costa Rica, has undergone a series of renovations intended to elevate the guest experience.

Sparked by the pandemic, the property underwent several renovations to its facilities and experience offers. The remodeled rooms, villas, and restaurants have been elevated. The experience programming focuses on creating lasting feelings for guests and transformational experiences unique to Cala Luna’s location, including educational visits to its nearby farm, La Senda, which supplies the hotel with organic fruits, vegetables and spices. The dining has been revamped with a new apothecary cocktail menu as well as a new take on Costa Rican modern cuisine. 

About Cala Luna 

Cala Luna Boutique Hotel & Villas is one of the only hotels in Guanacaste, Costa Rica that remains green all year round.

With few barriers between the hotel and nature, the 39-room boutique hotel is tucked within Costa Rica’s Playa Langosta and the Baulas National Park, the most exclusive, relaxing and private area of Tamarindo Beach. Cala Luna is a tropical, sustainable oasis just two-and-a-half-miles south of Liberia Airport.

Committed to its local community and environment, Cala Luna boasts the highest Sustainable Tourism certification (level 5) from the Costa Rican Tourism Institute (ICT).  Open-plan spaces and secluded accommodations meld into the lush jungle that attracts more wildlife than anywhere else in the area – monkeys, raccoons, iguanas, birds, insects, and humans.

Guests can nourish their senses daily through delicious home-grown ingredients, gastronomic farm-to-table dinners, holistic wellness, spa therapies, and deep connection to Mother Earth, all onsite. From dining at nearby farm La Senda and walking the world’s largest labyrinth, to sipping cocktails on the beach as the sun slips over the edge of the ocean, Cala Luna offers the ideal holistic retreat.

For more information about the property, visit www.calaluna.com. 

Here’s a look at the latest hotel and resort openings around the world

February 10, 2023 No Comments

A look at the latest hotel and resort news from fresh renovations to brand new properties and noteworthy packages. 

Hotel La Compañía, The Unbound Collection

With the opening of its American Wing, Hotel La Compañía, The Unbound Collection by Hyatt’s first property in Central America, has completed the final phase of the hotel’s seven-year restoration.

The new addition houses four of the hotel’s food and beverage outlets and completes the hotel’s creation as a living museum. Guests can catch a glimpse into the American period of the Panama Canal construction. The hotel opened in Panama’s Casco Antiguo in April 2022 and is deemed a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

While the main section of the hotel dates back to a 17th century Jesuit convent, the Beaux-Art era design of the American Wing is Hotel La Compañía’s youngest building, originally a high-end department store called American Bazaar in 1904. The American Wing’s 23 guestrooms reflect a vintage-era inspiration from the early 20th century with elegant wainscoting panels accentuated with a timeless black and white photo wall.

NUMU Boutique Hotel

For clients heading to the picturesque destination of San Miguel de Allende, NUMU Boutique Hotel is now open.

The hotel, part of The Unbound Collection by Hyatt, features 44 luxury guestrooms including four suites, with each room boasting a private terrace or balcony overlooking either the interior garden or the surrounding cobblestone streets.

The hotel’s rooftop restaurant, Maura, mesa de sal, offers southeastern Mexico cuisine with panoramic views of the city. Bar El Caminero is the hotel’s lobby bar, is home of the signature cocktail, “San Miguel”, with London Dry Gin, hoja santa, yellow chartreuse and tonic water. 

Recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Cultural Site, San Miguel de Allende is known for its rich culture and architecture with brightly coloured doors, private courtyards, plazas and centuries of history.

Embassy Suites by Hilton Aruba Resort

One Happy Island is home to a new Hilton property. Guests can now check into Embassy Suites by Hilton Aruba Resort, an all-suite resort located six miles from the Queen Beatrix International Airport.

Embassy Suites by Hilton Aruba Resort features 330 two-room suites, with a contemporary design inspired by Aruba’s iconic beaches. Rooms sleep up to six guests and are available as two queens or one king bed, with the living area offering extra seating and a sleeper sofa.

Dining areas offer a wet bar outfitted with a microwave, mini-fridge and coffee maker to create the perfect homebase to socialize with family and friends. Most rooms offer balconies, designed to enjoy the expansive views of the ocean, nature or pool.

citizenM Chicago Downtown  

Chicago bound travellers can now check into citizenM Chicago Downtown, a 280-room hotel that opened its doors in the last quarter of 2022. The hotel is situated between the Riverwalk and Millennium Park within a 47-story tower which also includes 289 residential units and 25,000 square feet of retail space.

The hotel facade features a commissioned piece by Illinois-born, New York-based Nina Chanel Abney, whose artwork also appears in the entrance. The hotel has a 24/7 gym and three societyM meeting rooms, which are available for half- and full-day bookings to both guests and the public, and rooms feature XL beds.

Hyatt brand to debut in Tokyo mid-2024

February 8, 2023 No Comments

Slated to open by mid-2024, Hyatt House Tokyo Shibuya will have 126 rooms and will be an ideal mid- to long-stay living accommodation situated just steps away from the world-famous Shibuya Scramble Crossing.

Hyatt House Tokyo Shibuya will mark the entry of the Hyatt House brand in Tokyo, further demonstrating Hyatt’s intentional brand growth in the Asia Pacific region.

Hyatt House Tokyo Shibuya will make guests feel genuinely at home with an elevated, spacious, and perfectly self-sufficient experience close to offices and commercial facilities in Shibuya. The Sakuragaoka area, just southwest of the Shibuya station where the hotel will be located, is being redeveloped as part of a major transformation of the Shibuya district, one of Tokyo’s most popular areas for entertainment, shopping, fashion, and dining. The area’s diverse new urban facilities will enhance Tokyo’s international competitiveness and create an ideal living and working environment for overseas guests.

Feel at home

Each of the hotel’s 126 spacious guestrooms, ranging in size from approximately 344 to 915 square feet (32 to 85 square meters), will offer home-like amenities including a well-equipped kitchen, washer and dryer, plush bed, and cozy living room. The lobby will face an airy rooftop garden and the property will feature an indoor swimming pool, lounge, H Bar, and restaurant.

In addition, Hyatt House Tokyo Shibuya’s communal space, fitness room, and other facilities will be designed to appeal to modern, self-sufficient travelers who appreciate relaxing, socializing and working as if they were at home.

Once open, Hyatt House Tokyo Shibuya will be the second Hyatt House-branded property in Japan, joining Hyatt House Kanazawa in Ishikawa prefecture, as well as a global portfolio of more than 125 locations worldwide.